mcdonaldconor.com
Conor McDonald

About Me

From defence tech to startup MVPs — I help founders ship fast

Software Engineer at Leonardo

I specialize in electronic warfare and embedded systems, building complex defence solutions that require deep technical expertise and innovative problem-solving.

By day, I work on cutting-edge defence technology. By night, I help founders turn ideas into working MVPs in 7 days.

You can read more about my journey and interests on my LinkedIn profile.

Technical Expertise

C++ & Embedded Systems
Ruby, Rails & Modern Web
Next.js & Cloud Platforms
Product Strategy & UX

My Journey

An unconventional path that shaped my approach to building products

1

Event Management

Learned to coordinate complex operations, manage stakeholders, and deliver results under pressure.

2

Health Services

Developed systems thinking and problem-solving skills in high-stakes environments with critical operational challenges.

3

Central Government

Navigated complex regulatory frameworks and drove operational efficiency at scale.

4

Aerospace & Defence

Mastered the art of cutting through signal vs noise, building the right software for the right problems in advanced embedded systems.

Internal Entrepreneurship

At Leonardo, I've learned to think like a founder. I identify problems, design solutions, and ship products fast — whether it's streamlining complex workflows or creating tools that solve real business challenges.

Rapid prototyping and iteration
User feedback loops and validation
Delivering measurable business value

Building MakeABooking

I'm also building my own startup — a tool helping small businesses turn followers into customers.

This firsthand founder experience, combined with my internal product building skills, means I understand both the technical and business challenges you're facing.

Ready to build your MVP?

Let's turn your idea into a working product in just 7 days

Get Started